Colorado’s plans for Ezra Christensen took a major hit on Aug. 24, when the defensive tackle transfer was denied a preliminary injunction and was ruled ineligible for the fall season, according to multiple reports.
That development deepens the uncertainty around Christensen’s future with the Buffaloes, where he had been expected to help a defense that needed a lift up front. Colorado had spent fall camp without him while his eligibility fight with the NCAA played out, but now the issue has turned into a serious setback for both player and program.
Christensen arrived in Boulder after producing 11 tackles for a loss and six sacks, production that made him a candidate to improve Colorado’s pass rush. He also started and starred at Fresno State under Jeff Tedford in 2023 and 2024, which is part of why Colorado brought him in for a Power Four opportunity and a possible sixth college season if the NCAA had approved it.
Instead, Christensen and his attorney, Darren Heitner, are now facing a major blow. Heitner has already said he is considering an emergency motion.
"The court should know that another jurisdiction ruled for the player in a very similar case and the NCAA’s recently supplementary filing was clearly made to confuse the court and slow down the process," Heitner posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The case lands in the middle of a strange stretch in college football eligibility. Undrafted NFL players can now return to college and enter the transfer portal under a new fifth-year eligibility rule for 2022 high school graduates. Judges in Colorado and Louisiana also gave players leverage to move back into the college game in mid-August, though those players still had to file a TRO, or Temporary Restraining Order, against the NCAA to get into the portal.
Christensen’s situation is not the same, though. He never entered the NFL Draft after his New Mexico State run, and his time in junior college also factors into the NCAA battle. His path was shaped in part by the COVID-19 era, when a wiped-out senior high school season pushed him into JUCO football.
With Christensen’s status now even murkier, Colorado has already explored other options. Tulane defensive lineman transfer Santana Hopper looks to be moving inside for Sanders and new defensive coordinator Chris Marve, and the Buffaloes had considered that possibility even before Christensen’s latest setback.
Hopper brings his own strong pass-rush win rate, giving Colorado another possible answer at the position. Former LSU transfer Quency Wiggins has also taken notable steps, with defensive tackles coach Dante Carter calling him an "X-Factor" this season.
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Colorado Just Lost A Key Piece In The Trenches
Colorados defensive front took a hit this week when transfer defensive lineman Ezra Christensen was denied a preliminary injunction, leaving him ineligible to play in the 2026 season for now. It is the latest reminder that roster building in the transfer era does not always end when a player arrives on campus, and for a team trying to strengthen the trenches, losing a piece like Christensen changes the calculus quickly.
His lawyer indicated the matter is not necessarily finished, with the possibility of an emergency motion for reconsideration still on the table. For the Buffaloes, though, the practical issue is immediate: they will have to lean on other transfers to help stabilize the defensive line while the legal process plays out, and that leaves Colorado waiting on a key answer in a spot where depth matters plenty. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Just Got A Promising Glimpse Of Deions Future Offense
Even with the season still ahead and the roster still taking shape, Colorados future offense got a little more tangible over the weekend. Jaiden Kelly-Murray, a 2026 wide receiver commit, turned in a standout high school performance with seven catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns, showing the kind of playmaking ability that can translate into immediate buzz for a program always under a microscope.
Andre Adams added to the encouraging picture for Buffaloes fans, too. The 2027 commit powered his high school team with 248 rushing yards in a win, giving Colorado another glimpse of a recruit capable of stressing defenses in a big way. Individually, both performances were eye-catching on their own, but together they offered a reminder that the Buffaloes next wave of skill talent could be worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]
Former Alabama RB Richard Young Faces Another Frustrating Setback At Colorado
Richard Youngs Colorado debut has been slowed by the kind of offseason that makes it harder for a newcomer to catch up, even before the real competition starts. The former Alabama transfer arrived with a chance to add another dimension to the Buffaloes backfield, but injury setbacks kept him out of significant summer practice time and delayed the work needed to get comfortable in the offense.
Running backs coach Johnnie Mack said Young is making progress in learning the system, which at least gives Colorado a path forward as camp and the season approach. Still, the missed time leaves his role for 2026 very much up in the air, and the Buffaloes will have to wait a little longer to see how much of an impact he can make once he is fully available. [Read more 🡒]